Commission discusses MOU, PILT and access concerns after Summit County land purchase
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Summary
Commissioners reviewed a recent Summit County purchase of acreage that straddles or abuts Morgan County and asked county attorneys to pursue an MOU to protect Morgan County interests, including deed restrictions, a conservation payment-in-lieu-of-taxes and advance notice of future acquisitions and access proposals.
Morgan County commissioners on Jan. 6 discussed a multi-parcel land purchase by Summit County and directed county attorneys to pursue a memorandum of understanding to protect the county's fiscal and maintenance interests.
Staff briefed the commission on two related transactions: a large approximately 1,800-acre purchase the counties are coordinating on and a separate 37.3-acre parcel that closed in the fall. Commissioners said their concerns include preserving Morgan County's road and maintenance interests, ensuring public-access decisions do not impose unplanned maintenance costs, and securing long-term deed restrictions and a payment-in-lieu-of-taxes (PILT) arrangement.
Staff described a proposed conservation PILT that would lock in the value and require Summit County to remit an annual PILT equal to current tax payments in perpetuity and to pay rollback taxes on green-belt land where applicable. Staff also said the county will seek contractual notice of any future Summit County acquisitions in Morgan County and a seat at planning tables when access or major use changes are contemplated.
Commissioners discussed access, snowplowing responsibilities and whether the county can deny a neighboring county's land purchases; attorneys advised notice and negotiated terms through an MOU are the available tools. The commission directed county attorneys to work with Summit County counterparts on an MOU spelling out deed restrictions, notice obligations, conservation PILT terms and provisions for road access and maintenance cost-sharing.
